In the Spotlight: Put Illinois voters back in charge of state government

Friday

Jan 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM

Brad McMillan

My 2014 New Year's resolution is to get 100 registered voters in Illinois to sign petitions for Yes for Independent Maps to establish an independent process for drawing legislative districts. Our goal is to get 500,000 signatures by May 4 to get this crucial reform on the 2014 election ballot.

I was no math major in college, but if we had 4,999 other Illinoisans who care enough about the future of the Land of Lincoln to join me, we would reach our goal. Are there 4,999 citizens out of 12.9 million Illinoisans who can gather 100 registered voter signatures from family, neighbors, workers, church members, etc.? Stop complaining about the mess Illinois is in and start doing something about it!

The Yes for Independent Maps campaign has already sent out 35,000 petitions to volunteers and organizations since late summer. You can sign up to help by going to independentmaps.org. Better yet, come to our regional meeting at the Peoria Public Library (lower level) on Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. and we will give you the petitions and instructions.

Following the 2010 census, a few powerful political leaders, in total secret, drew gerrymandered state legislative districts to protect incumbents and enhance their political control of Illinois. Some 97 percent of House members got re-elected. Obviously, we are not 97 percent happy with the job they are doing in Springfield.

The good news is that Illinois' registered voters can change our horrible redistricting process directly through a citizen-led, petition-driven constitutional amendment. It would help make Illinois government more transparent, fair, honest and accountable. The redistricting reform also would:

1. Create an independent commission of 11 citizens — four Democrats, four Republicans and three independents from different regions of the state. The members chosen would have relevant analytical skills, be impartial, and represent the diversity of Illinois. The map-drawing process would finally be taken away from the legislators.

2. The independent commission would have to hold all meetings with the public and media present. These meetings would occur around the state, both during the map-drawing process and for public feedback once the drafts are in.

3. The independent commission would be guided by specific criteria that would take the politics out of the process and ensure that the geographic integrity of communities and local units of government are preserved. The legislative districts would be substantially equal in population, contiguous, and ensure that minority voting rights are fully protected pursuant to federal law.

The constitutional amendment to change Illinois' seriously flawed redistricting process can finally bring good government back to Illinois. Please join me in being one of the 5,000 to finally put Illinois voters back in charge!

Brad McMillan is executive director of the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University. He lives in Dunlap.